simple really, mud sticks! Fiats reputation is now largely underserved, and it shows, in a recent WhatCar survey, Fiat were 18th (I think), one behind BMW. Ok so 18th isn't great, but think how many times they've come 29th-30th!!! Things hopefully are starting to change...
Why do Fiats have such a bad reputation?
- Thread starter Bigjawa
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Why do Fiats have such a bad reputation?
Lets hope so! but it will take time like Fords 10 year plan.Fiat are doing similar so it will be a few years yet before the customer benefits.
As for the dealers.....struggling to get decent staff like most industries,but as a insider I already can see the changes.Its easy to slag dealers when things go wrong but why does nobody notice the good things? You dont see many posts like 'my airbag light came on today & they looked at the car straight away & sorted it for free'......doesn't happen does it,well I done it 3 times today.Lets also not forget the information given out daily to customers who walk in off the street/phone...I answer at least a few calls a day to help out customers.
I have little time for salesmen & alot of managers but the techs at the garages I work from really go out of their way to help thinking nothing of staying behind to get the job right/finished,sadly though some customers think its their god given right to barge in shouting & demanding their car gets fixed now, at the expense of others who booked weeks in advance,and for free! Sorry sir but your H plate Uno is now out of warranty
As for the dealers.....struggling to get decent staff like most industries,but as a insider I already can see the changes.Its easy to slag dealers when things go wrong but why does nobody notice the good things? You dont see many posts like 'my airbag light came on today & they looked at the car straight away & sorted it for free'......doesn't happen does it,well I done it 3 times today.Lets also not forget the information given out daily to customers who walk in off the street/phone...I answer at least a few calls a day to help out customers.
I have little time for salesmen & alot of managers but the techs at the garages I work from really go out of their way to help thinking nothing of staying behind to get the job right/finished,sadly though some customers think its their god given right to barge in shouting & demanding their car gets fixed now, at the expense of others who booked weeks in advance,and for free! Sorry sir but your H plate Uno is now out of warranty
NumanR
Established member
Quite true mate, there are so many people leaving the industry due to being abused by customers. Fiat are improving things, the cars are great, (believe me no cars are perfect, some manufacturers are just more devious than others). What I dont think is a good idea is bringing back old names like Croma, panda etc. God help us if we get a Tempra again.
NumanR said:Quite true mate, there are so many people leaving the industry due to being abused by customers. Fiat are improving things, the cars are great, (believe me no cars are perfect, some manufacturers are just more devious than others). What I dont think is a good idea is bringing back old names like Croma, panda etc. God help us if we get a Tempra again.
I just walk away if I get that kind of crap & leave it to the managers to work it out,thats what they are paid for.
phil_GT
New member
i have as people have probly noticed just purchased a punto GT i've driven it once that it due to taking it home from buying it due to insurance.....
i've heard everything about punto's
along the lines of:
rust all underneath
tapping noises at mid revs
overheating quickly
being a fiat in general so unreliable
********only thing i am slightly concerned about is build up of oil behind the radiator at bottom of the engine**********
and i got to admit i was impressed
didnt hear and tapping noises from the engine
the tempreture guage never went abotu just below half and i was driving on boost most of the way home.
and the unreliable thing........
i have only owned 2 cars before this 1 was a 1990 nissan micra didnt have n e problems other than a clutch and ht leads and my second car was a renault clio 1996 this has had 2 heads 2 gaskets radiator suspension springs fuel tank leaked exhaust pipe grown holes bearings starter...........
i am really lookin forward to sticking to my new punt gt
i've heard everything about punto's
along the lines of:
rust all underneath
tapping noises at mid revs
overheating quickly
being a fiat in general so unreliable
********only thing i am slightly concerned about is build up of oil behind the radiator at bottom of the engine**********
and i got to admit i was impressed
didnt hear and tapping noises from the engine
the tempreture guage never went abotu just below half and i was driving on boost most of the way home.
and the unreliable thing........
i have only owned 2 cars before this 1 was a 1990 nissan micra didnt have n e problems other than a clutch and ht leads and my second car was a renault clio 1996 this has had 2 heads 2 gaskets radiator suspension springs fuel tank leaked exhaust pipe grown holes bearings starter...........
i am really lookin forward to sticking to my new punt gt
And if you do have any problems you know where to come for help
I was parked next to an R reg Renault Megane today, with less miles than my R reg Marea.
The bodywork on the Megane was rotten on the rear arches, mine are unmarked.
So, ignore those who tell you Fiats rust!
The bodywork on the Megane was rotten on the rear arches, mine are unmarked.
So, ignore those who tell you Fiats rust!
phil_GT
New member
any car will rust for all u know it had been in a previous accident that damaged the anti rust stuff they use look at fiesta's for u arches go by first winter
Yeah, Fiestas do seem to suffer.
The megane was both sides, not sure if it was accident damage...
The megane was both sides, not sure if it was accident damage...
phil_GT
New member
seems i have read a bit about fiats rusting a lot early on and now everything is rust proofd too much lol mine is 97 model and has no rust what so ever on it :|
Most of the Fiat models (including the Punto) have a fully galvenised body to protect the bodywork from rust.phil_GT said:
i was thinking about this post today at work and i looked around and this is what i noticed:
my boss has quite a few vans,5 ford transits,mitsubishi l300,vw transporter and a fiat ducato. now the fiat ducato is one of the eldest and has no rust on it but the rest are all rusty, so there goes the "fiats are rustbuckets" theory
my boss has quite a few vans,5 ford transits,mitsubishi l300,vw transporter and a fiat ducato. now the fiat ducato is one of the eldest and has no rust on it but the rest are all rusty, so there goes the "fiats are rustbuckets" theory
Rust is built into ford transits as standard, idea is that they will be trashed and have covered 5 times to the sun and back before the rust is a problem.
The Negotiator said:
My above comment is based on nothing, no fact, experience or hearsay, I just made it up on the spot Honest hey?
However, it must be part of Ford's business plan, hoping to get vans replaced every x years.
Honest hey?However, it must be part of Ford's business plan, hoping to get vans replaced every x years.
LOL at least your honest! Personally I love the new transit,really great to drive but older ones more reliable.New Ducatos are ok bu tthat rattling exhaust would drive me nuts :bang:
Alot of 'modern' cars are designed with a shelf life of 10 years
Alot of 'modern' cars are designed with a shelf life of 10 years
T14086 said:LOL at least your honest! Personally I love the new transit,really great to drive but older ones more reliable.New Ducatos are ok bu tthat rattling exhaust would drive me nuts :bang:
Alot of 'modern' cars are designed with a shelf life of 10 years
we have a new shape tranny and it is really nice to drive and is quite quick too with very nice steering but its my bosses sons and it can't take the daily abuse
but the ducato is a love machine that never goes wrong 
The Ducato is also sold as a Peugeot something-or-other and as a Citroen Relay, isn't it? I'm curious as to how much of it is actually made by Fiat! Our company vans are a similar sort of collaboration; they're Vauxhall Vivaros, which are identical to Renault Trafic and Nissan Primastar vans. The dashboard in them is unmistakeably a Renault design, and I'm pretty sure the CDTI engine is just a rebadged 1.9 DCi too.
JonnyBoy said:
shhhh
